Lionhearted Leaders: Nicolae Tarfulea
PNW’s Lionhearted Leaders are faculty recognized for their exceptional work inside and outside the classroom.
Meet Nicolae Tarfulea, professor of mathematics and a Lionhearted Leader in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
What are your teaching methods, philosophy, and goals?
I consider teaching an essential component of the academic work. This belief is rooted on an understanding that both students and faculty are equally important members of the community of learners.
An enthusiastic attitude towards teaching and an excitement for the subject matter can go a long way toward winning over a class. But to be an effective instructor one has to think carefully about the goals for the course and the best way to achieve them.
From my teaching experience, I have seen that finding the right balance between setting high expectations for the students and maintaining a supportive (and accommodating) classroom environment is a true challenge and a key issue in teaching. I have always tried to be as specific as possible about the quantity and quality of work I was expecting. I feel that I am a demanding teacher and have high expectations of my students. I hold myself to a high standard as a teacher, and I expect a strong effort from my students as well.
My teaching is based on my strong conviction that the only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics. While the lectures and reading examples and proofs in textbooks are very important, the real learning comes through student’s own efforts at solving mathematical problems regardless of their nature (e.g., theoretical, computational, or both).
Whenever I enter a face-to-face, (mixed) synchronous, or fully virtual classroom I have two goals: 1) giving an interactive lecture that keeps the students interested and focused and 2) instilling an understanding that their work outside the classroom is essential to their success. No matter how effective the instructor is as a lecturer, inspiring students to work outside of class is extremely important.
What motivates you to do your best?
The short answer is my passion for math, personal ambition, and the belief that I owe doing my best to my students, peers, former professors, and family.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I like to travel, and I have visited many countries, mostly by attending professional events. I also like reading books and articles on
history, financial topics, and new scientific discoveries.